One of the best ways to fight the #winter blahs is to organize a space. “Being stuck inside for days on end can get wearisome and depressing, especially if #clutter is stressing you out on top of everything else,” Done & Done Home says. You don’t have to do a full overhaul; just concentrate on the areas where you spend the most time, such as the living room or kitchen. Stick to manageable #decluttering and #organizing tasks to give yourself control over the indoor environment and #donate any excess #stuff to ClothingDonations.org. The sense of accomplishment should make you feel better. #MidwinterBlahs
Tag: getting organized
Using Light Therapy to Counter Seasonal Depression
Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a moderate to severe form of depression marked by anxiety, fatigue and decreased energy — during the darkest days of #winter. An ounce of prevention may worth a pound of cure, Well+Good says, if you are feeling the full effect of SAD or even a mild case of the winter doldrums. Light therapy can bring some “natural-feeling, mood-boosting” rays into an otherwise dreary space. Mimicking natural sunlight, indoor lamps can be used for just 30 minutes per day to trick the body into a more sunshiny mood. #MidwinterBlahs
How to Shake The Winter Blues
“More than half the people living in places where there are four seasons report having the ‘winter blues,’ a mild depression characterized by a lack of motivation and low energy,” says the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute. To elevate your mood, make peace with #winter by spending time outdoors. Eat right, but make a place for a big batch of soup. Drink plenty of water, since winter can be dehydrating even when there’s snow on the ground. And “don’t be afraid to ask for help,” CTRI says. “Speak to your doctor or call your local mental health center if your symptoms are severe and debilitating.” #MidwinterBlahs
Fighting Wintery Feelings of Gloom
#Winter may start with the excitement of the #holidays, but there’s not much to look forward to as the season progresses. Cold, gloomy #weather and social hibernation can easily trigger listlessness, sadness and depression. Combat those #blahs by planning something you look forward to, suggests Well+Good. A social event, vacation or class can get you out of the house and keep your mental state positive. Exercise — whether at the gym or on a brisk, bundled-up walk — can also elevate one’s mood. Or maybe it’s time to tackle an indoor task you skipped over the summer, like #cleaning a #closet. #MidwinterBlahs
How to Store Your Off-Season Stuff
If you live in an area where the #seasons change, you probably have multiple wardrobes based on the outdoor temperature: shorts and T-shirts for #summer, corduroys and coats for winter, and multiple layers for everything in-between. That demands a lot of #storage #space.
If you’re a person who is blessed with giant walk-in #closets dedicated to different seasons, you won’t have any concerns. But in terms of #clutter, it never hurts to pare the #wardrobe down to the things you actually wear and have them at the ready when the weather dictates.
Many of us perform a biannual swapout to prepare for the new season — or at least we should. Otherwise, you’ll need to sort through your swimwear in order to find your favorite sweater, and vice-versa. Take advantage of the change in seasons to #organize and edit your #clothing.
“Before you put anything in storage, you must take stock of your current off-season inventory,” says The Home Edit. “Editing will give you the opportunity to reevaluate your wardrobe to clear space and start fresh.”
Set aside anything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t fit quite right or fits uncomfortably. Set aside any items you haven’t worn in more than a year. Now’s the best time to get rid of any summer #clothes that didn’t get worn since the season and what you wore is fresh in your mind.
Next, sort the #stuff you want to wear during the #fall and #winter into the easiest-access #storage real estate — those shelves, hangers and hooks that you see as soon as you open the closet door. Do the same edit on the incoming fall goods, setting aside anything you can’t envision wearing.
Store the off-season “keepers” separately from the incoming season’s must-haves. That might mean a high shelf, under the bed or in the basement; just try to make sure those garments are protected from moisture, mold, mildew and insects.
Finally, bag your lightly used set-asides and #donate them to ClothingDonations.org by scheduling a #free #donation #pickup. Any damaged or stained garments can be thrown directly into the trash or shredded into rags.
#Streamlining clothing storage with the change of seasons will pay off by keeping your drawers and closets #clutter-free. What’s more, you’ll save lots of time by being able to find what you want to wear when you want to wear it, all season long.